Limelight Love Story

17. Hickey Wife

There was a time when Tim dreamed at night of winning another Stanley Cup or scoring a particularly difficult goal, but his dreams turned into visions of Lucy, and they became so vivid that he could swear she was actually sucking on his neck in just the right spot so expertly that he moaned as his eyes flew open when he woke.

"Good morning, husband," she whispered into his skin and licked the spot on his neck she had been paying special attention to.

He took stock of reality: her scent, her warm body on top of his, no, her very naked warm body on top of his, and her lips really were on his neck. Tim blinked away some of his sleep and pushed her hair away from her face to say, "Morning, gorgeous."

Lucy made a happy sound and then fully detached her lips from his body to talk to him. She tossed her hair over her shoulder to cascade down one side of her head while repositioning herself on his chest to look him in the eyes. "So, yesterday happened."

He lightly glided his finger up and down her spine, making her shiver. "Yeah...any regrets?"

"We should've done that sooner."

Tim chuckled until he could crane his neck to kiss her.

"I love you so much," she whispered and ruffled his very messy hair.

He was so happy, he thought he might burst into heart-shaped ribbons of love for Lucy. "I love you, too. I'll be right back."

She flexed her muscles to remain planted on top of him. "I'm not letting you leave."

"I have to get you your tea."

"Not today, baby. I want you to stay right here." She traced the red mark on his neck and went back to nipping on the spot. His groans and the way his fingers tightened in her hair encouraged her to keep going. Eventually, Lucy pulled back to admire her work. "This is so much better than tea."

"Not yet," Tim replied and moved her up his body slightly to get her where he wanted.

She dug her fingers into the mattress on either side of him and let Tim fervently make a mark on her lower neck. Her body was positively thrumming; as if she could not love him any more, Lucy discovered how he set her on fire in the most distinct and welcome way as if physically confirming their compatibility after their hearts had already shown them that despite their differences, they belonged together; they were meant to be joined together as one both bodily and emotionally. "Tim," she sighed his name.

He wrenched his mouth away and asked, "Was that too much?"

"No," she grinned. "You're perfect." Lucy held his face and noticed the engagement ring on her finger that was still a foreign object to her. "I can't believe you actually proposed to me on Christmas. That's so romantic," she swooned and wiggled her fingers so the diamond on her hand would catch the sunlight and sparkle.

"I didn't technically ask you yesterday." He saw her try to speak, but he continued, "Look, neither of us chose this marriage in the conventional way, and I know that we didn't expect to really want to commit each other, but we did. I didn't ask you to be my wife. Actually, you sorta asked me to be your husband in the beginning, but...I'm asking you now. Will you be my wife permanently? Forever?"

"Yes, husband, it's a yes." She brushed her lips against his. "You didn't have to ask, because it isn't a question. It's you and me everyday dedicating ourselves to our marriage."

"As much as I agree with that, I thought you deserved to be asked. So, it's official now. We're staying married no matter what." His pointer finger tapped on her stack of rings. "I wanted to do something bigger to make this moment feel special."